Improvement in metaliurgic furnaces



z Sheets-Sheet 11..

' W. M. WATSON.

METALLURGIG-FURNACE.

y M l IIIIIIIIIIIII WITNESSES W.

2 Sheets-Sheet Z. W M. WATSON.

METALLURGIC-FU'RNACE.

$10,191,209. Patented May 22,1877.

Z 6 49 2, 4 fi I gdwfig v r WILLIAM M. WATSON, OF TONIOA, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN METALLURGIC FURNACES.

' Specification forming partof Letters Patent No. 1:} L209, dated May22, 1877; application filed February 17, 1877.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM Mum) WAT- SON, ofTonica, in the county of La Salle and State of Illinois, have invented anew and valuable Improvement in Metallurgic Farnaces and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe construction and operation of the same, reference being had to theannexed drawings, making a part ofthis specification, and to the lettersand figures of reference marked thereon.

Fignrel of the drawings is a representation of a vertical sectional viewof my improved furnace. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional viewtaken through line at m. Fig. 3 is a similar view taken through line yy.Fig. 4 is a plan view with the top removed. Figs. 5 and 6 are detailmodifications of my improved furnace.

The object of this invention is for the purpose of controlling at will areducing, a neutral, or an oxidizing flame for heating the hearth of thefurnace for tempering metals, and for other purposes, while securing thegreatest economy of fuel compatible with the kind of flame required. Icause the gaseous products of the primary combustion of the fuel in thefire-chamber to pass therefrom to the heating-hearth through a series ofpassages, in which atmospheric air is mingled with the blaze inregulated proportions to stimulate their oxidation to the degree thatwill produce the kind of flame which the work to be tempered on thehearth requires, some kinds of work being best tempered with areducing-flame, others with a neutral flame, and others with anoxidizing-flame, the due admixture of air and gases to produce therequired flame being always effected in the passage before the flameenters the hearth, thereby preventing the injurious effect upon theobjects being heated; and the nature of my invention consists in certainimprovements upon furnaces, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the annexed drawings I have shown a re may be either stationary orrevolving, as may be desired.

The bridge-wall D is provided with a series of horizontal passages, a,formed by means of partitions c, which latter extend to the roof of thefurnace, as fully shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings.

' The passage 1) of the bridge--wall D extends entirely across the.furnace, and through the side walls thereof, and at. its ends it isprovided with sliding doors or dampers d, to regulate the admission ofcold air into the furnace.

The blaze of the fire is divided, and passes through the horizontalpassages 0. in the bridge-wall. Here the atmospheric air that is drawninto the passage 12 comes in direct contact with the smoke and blaze,and assists in burning the inflammable parts. These elements are thencepassed over and across the hearth containing the article or articles tobe annealed or tempered, and finally through similar passages 01,similarly divided at the rear end of the furnace, into the smoke-stack.

The rear wall of the furnace is provided with a well or pit, H, for thecollection of the unconsumed products of combustion, and for greaterease of cleaning the chimney.

The letter I represents a fuel box or magazine, attached in front of thefurnace-door for the purpose of supplying the fire-chamber. Thisfuel-box is designed to be a little inclined toward the furnace, so thatthe fuel can be easily fed to said fire-chamber. Arranged between theentrance of the fire-chamber and the fuel-box is a vertically-slidingmetallic door, K, having attached at its upper end a chain and'weight,the former passing over a pulley, l, journaled in a frame secured nearthe upper end of the furnace. The ordinary fulcrum and lever with theirconnections may be used in lieu of the pulley, chain, and weight, tooperate the sliding door.

- The fuel-box is provided with an-outer door, having a hole for thehandle of a feed-hoe to project through.

The feed-hoe is placed in the fuel-box and the outer door closed, thehandle of the hoe projecting through the door; then thevertically-sliding inner door is opened and the furnace charged withfuel.

The object of the fuel-box with its connections is to have the fuel athand, and to exclude the admission of cold air during the operation offeeding the furnace.

When the draft of the chimney is not strong enough a blast will be usedto aid cumbustion. The air may be forced into the openings of thepassage b, and thence upward through the passage (1 in the bridge-wall,where it will mingle and combine with the flame or blaze and gases ofthe fire-chamber, and accomplish the effect above set forth.

Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings show modifications of the partition-blocksc, as indicated by full and dotted lines.

What I claim as my invention is- In a furnace, the combination, with thefire and hearth chambers, of a series of intermediate flues or passagesand a hollow firebridge, situated below and in direct communicationtherewith, the arrangement of parts being such that air admitted throughthe' hollow bridge is commingled with the divided currents of gas andflame prior to their entry into the hearth chamber, substantially asshown and described.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my namein the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM MEDD WATSON.

Witnesses:

E. W. W001), I. A. VANDEVERT.

